ONE ‘NITE’ ONLY Band brings blues back for the holiday weekend. Page 11
ABCs OF THE SEA Shoreline species made simple in a new book. Page 11
NEWS | Vashon man charged for propositioning girls. [4] COMMUNITY | Islanders fight [5] wildfire in Leavenworth. COMMENTARY | Franciscans make it difficult to weigh in. [6]
BEACHCOMBER VASHON-MAURY ISLAND
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2013
Vol. 58, No. 35
www.vashonbeachcomber.com
75¢
Labor dispute could leave students at the curb School bus drivers ask company for higher pay, call strike a last resort By NATALIE JOHNSON Staff Writer
A dispute over wages for Vashon’s school bus drivers could lead to a strike if the group is unable come to an agreement with First Student, the company that provides Vashon’s bus service. In a disagreement that has delayed union negotiations for months, the drivers, part of the Teamsters Local Union No. 763, say their wages are not equal to those of First Student drivers in other parts of the state. They also claim there are wage inequities among the Vashon drivers themselves and that First Student has stalled negotiations and withheld public information concerning wages in other areas. The union filed formal charges against First Student with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) last week, said Jason Powell, the Teamsters’ business agent who works out of Tukwila. “They feel that the company disrespects them,” said Powell, who is involved in negotiating the union contract and has visited Vashon regularly. “They do not believe that anything short of some kind of ugly dispute is going to get them what they deserve.” No representatives from First Student were able to comment on Monday. Powell said the group of about 15 regu-
lar and substitute bus drivers, who are all Vashon residents, would likely be striking now, had he not discouraged them from doing so. Instead, 11 drivers handed out fliers about the dispute on Monday afternoon in town. The bright orange fliers were headed with the title “Labor dispute could impact student transportation” and asked islanders to call First Student and request that the company continue negotiations and offer Vashon drivers a “contract which is fair and equitable when compared to First Student bus drivers all over Washington state.” “I believe a peaceful way to work this out is a better way of doing business,” Powell said on Monday. “We’ll give the community the opportunity today to reach out to the company and let them know what they think.” Michael Soltman, Superintendent of the Vashon Island School District, said he was aware of the dispute, though not familiar with all the details, and he had encouraged both sides to work together toward “an agreement that honors both of their interests,” he said. A bus driver strike, Soltman said, would be “very difficult for this community to deal with.” At the same time, he said, the district doesn’t have much of a role in the negotiations. In some communities, school bus drivers are employed by school districts. On Vashon, bus service is provided by First Student, a large company, which also operates school buses for Seattle Public Schools and several other school SEE BUSES, 14
Natalie Johnson/Staff Photo
TUNES FILL THE POINT FOR A BLUEGRASS BENEFIT Despite drizzly weather Sunday, about 60 people made their way to Point Robinson to hear the island band Riverbend play a benefit concert for Vashon Youth & Family Services (VYFS). The band played old-time bluegrass and folk music under a backdrop of the Point Robinson Lighthouse, and the event netted the nonprofit roughly $550, said Kathleen Johnson, executive director of VYFS. “We’re thrilled,” Johnson said. “We were really happy that people came out and supported us.” Next month, VYFS will host another concert, when the popular island duo of Sarah Perlman and Daryl Redeker, or RedPerl, take to the stage Sept. 29 at the Vashon Theatre. The social services organization is in a time of transition, as it merges its mental health and addiction treatment programs into one division and hires some new staff (see story below).
VYFS hopes program changes will better serve islanders’ needs New face will head agency’s addiction treatment program By SUSAN RIEMER Staff Writer
Vashon Youth & Family Services, the island’s largest social service agency, recently restructured in an effort to better serve those in need of both mental health and addiction treatment services.
The change, which combined the agency’s mental health care and addiction therapy programs into one division, was several months in the making and is in line with current practices at similar agencies and new policies at the state level, said Kathleen Johnson, the executive director of VYFS. Johnson knew of this trend when she started at the agency last January, she said, and she believes the move makes sense because mental health problems and addiction frequently co-exist. “I think it is a great step forward for
patients,” Johnson said. “A person walking in our door has access to both (services) seamlessly.” While clients will notice few changes on the mental health side of the new Behavioral Health Services division, there have been new staff hired at the addiction treatment program, and new internal systems have been put in place to ensure smooth communication and improved care for clients, Johnson said. The addiction treatment program, now named Outpatient Addiction Recovery
Services (OARS), is licensed by the state and offers youth and adult substance abuse prevention, intervention, assessments, outpatient treatment and aftercare support. In addition to treating substance abuse, staff with the program also offer services for people coping with addictive behaviors and eating disorders. In time, Johnson said, she would like to see the program grow to one that can provide more intensive services and to offer more SEE VYFS, 15